As part of Public Service Recognition Week, the Federal Executive Association (FEA) of Columbus and Central Ohio recognized "the best federal employees in Central Ohio." At a May 6th luncheon, three teams from HUD's Columbus Field Office were among those honored for their accomplishments in public service for the second year in a row.

The Ohio E-Government Customer Empowerment Team won the Outstanding Customer Service Award for its successful efforts to build useful, accurate web pages for Ohio and for the successful relocation of the Kiosk to a high traffic, public bus transfer facility. As a result, website visits increased 37% from the previous year and Kiosk usage more than tripled. This cross-program, multi-office team included staff in the Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago Offices.

The Ohio Multifamily Troubled Projects Team won the Outstanding Quality Improvement Award for their successful efforts to work through eminent domain proceedings, foreclosures, and bankruptcies to help turn around 20 troubled projects and to recover over $20 Million from failed developments. The cross-program team included key Columbus Multifamily and Legal staff.

The Ohio Team to End Chronic Homelessness won the Outstanding Productivity or Process Improvement Award for its successful efforts to create a team approach for the administration and oversight of the Continuum of Care process and grantees in Ohio. The CPD Team worked to help make local providers more efficient and more effective in serving homeless citizens. This multiplier effect resulted in a significant statewide productivity improvement with more organizations, providing more programs to more people. Ohio receives the 5th highest level of funding among all states.

In 2002, Ohio HUD staff also received the prestigious recognition of their peers and community during Public Service Recognition Week

The Central Ohio branch of the Federal Executive Association represents more than 15,000 federal employees. J. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio Secretary of State (and a former senior HUD executive), was the keynote speaker.